This is a really weird question but it's one that I've been thinking about for a long time. We all know that when you go with a short stem the steering gets twitchy that's why you compensate by going with wider bars and vice versa for a long stem. But I've always wondered if you're running drop bars and you're running a short stem but you generally ride with your hands up on the hoods, does the position of your hands make the steering twitchiness feel like you're running a longer stem? I mean even though you're bars are attached to your steerer with a short stem, the fact that you're holding on to the bars 90 millimeters (or so) ahead of the stem, doesn't that mean you've got the same effect as if you're running a long stem?

The rate at which the bars move per given input, IMHO, is determined by the point at which your hands make contact with the bars regardless of how long the stem is. So I would think a set of drop bars would make a 60 or 70 mm stem react like a 120mm stem if your holding onto the hoods. Someone tell me I am right or wrong..

Yes, riding the hoods is the same as riding a long stem, and putting the bars lower or riding in the drops without changing the stem reach also accomplishes the same thing. Both redistribute your weight toward the front which makes the bike handle better, feel less twitchy, helps prevent the front from wandering on steep climbs, keeps your center of gravity low on steep descents. It seems to me an important goal of fit should be to get the bars as low as possible.

I thought so. That being the case, why do so many people balk at running a short stem with drop bars? Everyone seems to act like any shorter than 90mm with drops is too twitchy. Maybe they need the extra length for times they are riding on the flats?

When climbing out of the saddle with your hands on the hoods longer reach is desirable to get maximum leverage on the pedals. If you feel like your going to fall forward over the bars on steep climbs when standing your stem is too short. If your frame is so large that a short stem is necessary you can still get good handling by maximizing bar drop, for example by using a negative rise stem.

A shorter stem is oftentimes used to dial in the fit on a bike with a longish top tube and when a less aggressive riding position is desired. My experience has been that taller and shorter stems do not effect handling (no different than having a taller headtube) and that twitchiness is more associated with shorter wheelbases, less fork trail and lightweight steel tubing with a heavy load over the rear wheel such as when touring.

I opted for a 60mm on my bike lately due to some developing wrist issues and really can't say as if I notice much difference in the steering from the 90 I had on prior. I haven't done a lot of climbing but what I have done while standing didn't make me feel front heavy or anything like that. I just know some others advised me against going this short but I like it so far.

I like a short stem on all of my bikes. I now run an 80mm on my road bike and both of my fixed gears. Mountain bike already had a short stem. I love having the bars a bit closer and notice no difference in handling or twitchiness. Significant difference in comfort.

because a drop bar road bike accounts for this, hybrid flat bar bikes usually have longer effective top tube lengths in a given size. Short stems on the extreme end are twitchy compared to long stems.

I am sure it is twitchier but I don't find it unmanageable. I think if I was riding with both hands on the flats it might be extremely twitchy but that made me nervous anyways even with a long stem as your hands are so close together it is like holding onto a 400 mm flat lol.